Every year Congress authorizes the production of United States Mint annual commemorative coins to honor outstanding American people, places, events and institutions. Although these coins are legal tender, just like the ones in everyday circulation, annual commemorative coins are produced in limited quantities, specifically for gold and silver coin collectors and are available directly from the US Mint for only a limited time.

The purpose of US Mint annual commemorative coins:

As well as celebrating important aspects of American history and culture, annual commemorative coins are used to raise funds for specific causes and public projects. The Mint adds a surcharge to the actual cost of production and gives the proceeds from the sale of the coins to the organization concerned. For example, surcharges on the Capitol Visitor Center commemorative coins, which marked the building of the US Capital in 1800 and were sold from February 28, 2001 to March 1, 2002, were given to the Capital Preservation Commission to fund the construction of a visitor center under the US Capitol’s East Plaza. Similarly, the surcharges for the 2012 Star-Spangled Banner Commemorative Coins—$35 for each gold coin and $10 for each silver coin—will go to the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission to help support community activities, educational programs and the preservation of sites related to the War of 1812.

Indeed, more than $418 million has been raised through the sale of United States Mint annual commemorative coins since the program began. The proceeds have been used to building new museums and monuments, maintain important historical sites and even reduce the national debt.

“Early” US Mint annual commemorative coins

The first United States Mint annual commemorative coin was the 1892 Columbian Exposition half dollar. From 1892 through 1954, Congress authorized the Mint to produce a total of 157 gold and silver coins, honoring 53 different individuals and events. During this “early” period, the US Mint produced the coins and sold them directly to the organizations responsible for public projects. The organizations added surcharges as a means of fundraising.

Over time, however, concerns were raised about whether Congress was authorizing more coins than the market could bear, the level of the surcharges applied, and the extent to which individual events or institutions were of national, rather than local or regional, importance. Finally, because of these concerns, the program was suspended in 1955.

“Modern” US Mint annual commemorative coins

Largely in response to calls from coin collectors, Congress resumed the US Mintannual commemorative coinprogram in late 1981 by authorizing the George Washington commemorative coin. It also restructured the program to enable the US Mint to sell coins directly to the public. The proceeds from the George Washington commemorative coins were used to reduce the national debt.

Today, under the “modern” commemorative coin program, gold and silver collectors’ coins are produced in half-dollar, one-dollar, five-dollar and ten-dollar denominations by the US Mint facilities in Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and West Point. United States Mint Annual commemorative coins are sold mainly through the Mint’s mail-order service or through private retail outlets. To get more information on commemorative gold and silver coins for collectors, please visit www.wholesalecoinandmore.comor call 1-888-310-9026.